The 2020 MHSAA soccer season has started for area schools as the Loyd Star tournament will take place today at the Hansel King Sports Complex. Here is a look ahead at the tournament and a recap of games played this week.

Tournament play begins at 8 a.m.

The Loyd Star tournament often serves as an unofficial kickoff to the season for area teams.

Competing along with the host Hornets are the boys’ teams from Copiah Academy, Adams County Christian School, West Lincoln, Parklane Academy and Yazoo County.

Loy Star kicks things off at 8 a.m. when they face Copiah Academy. That match will be followed by West Lincoln vs. ACCS.

West Lincoln takes on Parklane Academy at 1:20 p.m. and Loyd Star faces Yazoo County at 2:40 p.m.

The boys’ championship match will be held at 5:20 p.m.

Each game will consist of 30-minute halves and a five-minute halftime.

On the girls’ side of the bracket it’s Loyd Star, West Lincoln, ACCS, Yazoo County and Wayne County.

West Lincoln and ACCS play the first match at 8 a.m. and are followed by Loyd Star vs. Yazoo County at 9:20 a.m.

West Lincoln faces Yazoo County at 12 p.m. and Loyd Star takes on Wayne County at 1:20 p.m.

The girls’ championship will be held at 4 p.m.

Hornets and Panthers split matches Thursday night

Thursday at the complex, Loyd Star hosted Brookhaven High in the regular season opener for both teams.

Jordan Lea is in his first year as head coach for both LS teams after previously serving as an assistant for Dale Brister.

In the girls’ match, things were tied 0-0 after regulation and ended with a shootout.

The shootout finished with LS up 4-2 as an Abby Burnette shot put the Lady Hornets ahead.

Brookhaven High is coached by first-year head coach Dustin Barfield who replaced longtime Lady Panther leader Kevin Bower.

“Our girls played with a lot of determination and heart against an extremely well-coached BHS team,” said Lea. “We were able to come out on top and it was a good start to the season, but we still have a lot to improve on.”

In the boys’ game, BHS took a 3-1 win behind a pair of Cole Cruthirds goals and another score from Michael Thomas Stewart.

Ole Brook head coach Aaron Ayers and his team will be in Laurel today facing West Jones and Petal in a tournament hosted by Laurel High.

BHS faces WJ at 9 a.m. and Petal at 11:30 a.m. The Lady Panthers will face the same two schools with their match against Petal going off at 9 a.m. and the contest with West Jones starting at 11:30 a.m.

Loyd Star got on the board late Thursday night via a Luis Benavidez goal that came on a free kick.

Bears split with North Pike and Wesson wins one at Lawrence County

West Lincoln and second year coach Jeremy Johnson opened their season at 4A North Pike Thursday night.

In the girls’ match the Lady Jaguars held on for a 2-1 win. WL got their goal from Camryn Summerall off a Cara Jarancik assist.

The boys’ contest saw West Lincoln take a 3-0 victory. Briar Hamilton, Tiler Castillo and Spencer Maxwell scored a goal each. Hamilton and Castillo also chipped in an assist apiece.

Wesson played Lawrence County in other area action Thursday.

The Lady Cobras lost 1-0 to Lawrence County while the boys’ game was won by WAC.

Goals by Conner Diamond and Connor Brister pushed Wesson out to a 2-0 victory.

Wesson coach Bobo Douglas and his team travel to McLaurin on Tuesday.